Multiple wire nodule forming machine



April 14, 1959 Filed Jan. 17. 1957 K. H. MIDDEN DORF MULTIPLE WIRE NODULE FORMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToRv..

April 14, 1959 K. H. MIDDENDORF MULTIPLE WIRE NODULE Fem/:ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1'?. y195? INVENTOR. MAM. l. /woeoor- BY I K. H. MiDDENDoRF,

MULTIPLE WIRE Nonuu: FoRMiNG MACHINE April 14, 1959 4 sheets-sheet :s

Filed Jan. 1'?, 1957 INVENTOR. KARL d. /xouednolzr- BY @d KFM/@L ATTonut- April 14, 1959 K. H. MIDDENDORF 2,881,647

MULTIPLE WIRE NoDuLE FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 4 v m... v .um HMV/ .y mmmmu m Q l afm NVENTOR A-fonrl EA( United States Patent O 2,881,647 MULTIPLE WIRE NODULE FORMING MACHINE Karl H. Middendorf, Costa Mesa, Calif., assgnor to The Prescon Corporation, a corporation of Texas Application January 17, 1957, Serial No. 634,636 12 Claims. (Cl. 78-17) My invention relates to a machine for cold forming nodules on wires, and particularly relates to a machine for forming nodules simultaneously on a plurality of wires at uniformly spaced intervals on each thereof.

In providing enlargements, heads or nodules on high tensile strength wires used in connection with the pretensioning of concrete structures it is highly important that the tensile strength of the wires not be impaired by the formation of the heads, enlargements or nodules thereon. In order to prevent the reduction in tensile strength of said wires by the forming of the enlargements or 'nodules it is highly desirable that said enlargements or nodules be formed without heating the wire, or in other words, by a cold forming process. My apparatus forms such nodules or enlargements on high tensile strength steel wires in such a manner that the cold forming of such nodules or enlargements can be accomplished economically. In order to accomplish the cold forming of such nodules or enlargements on said high tensile strength steel wires in an economical manner, a large number of said wires are operated on simultaneously to form the nodules or. enlargements thereon.

My improved method and apparatus comprises the forming of nodules or enlargements between the ends of high tensile strength steel wire by gripping said wire firmly, by means of smooth surfaced longitudinally grooved gripping jaws, under sufficient pressure at predetermined spaced points along the length thereof that there will be no slippage between the gripping means and the Wire, then one of said gripping means is moved toward the other gripping means to upset, or increase the cross section of, said wire between the gripped portions thereof. Said gripping means may be provided, and preferably are provided, with die portions comprising end enlargements in said grooves that are of such a character that these will form the enlargements or nodules into the desired shape as the gripping means for the wire approach each other.

Accordingly my invention comprises the method of forming a nodule on a high tensile strength steel wire comprising gripping said wire at longitudinally spaced points a predetermined distance from each other and decreasing the distance between the gripped portions of said wire to upset the portion of said wire located between said gripped yportions without heating the wire to a forging heat, or in other words, by cold forming.

More specifically it is a purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus for cold forming enlargements or nodules on a plurality of wires simultaneously, comprising pairs of smooth surfaced, grooved clamping jaws for the wires relatively movable toward and away from each other, and means for moving one jaw of each pair toward the other jaw of each pair to clamp or grip a wire between each of said pairs of jaws, a plurality of said pairs y y I.2,881,641 Patented Apr. 14, 1,959y

ICC

of jaws being mounted on a jaw carrier that is movable relative to another jaw carrier, provided with a similar plurality of paired jaws, opposite said rst mentioned paired jaws, for movement toward and away from the other jaw carrier, whereby the wires gripped by the paired jaws opposite each other on the two carriers are upset to form nodules thereon when one of said carriers is moved toward the other carrier.`

My invention further comprises means for simultaneously moving one jaw of al1 of said pairs of jaws. toward the other or cooperating jaw of eachpair, into wire gripping engagement, and holding said jaws in such wire grip-A ping engagement, said means for moving said jaws being preferably hydraulic means that simultaneously operate under hydraulic pressure to move said jaws in a clamping direction. i

It is another object of my invention to provide means for moving the wires simultaneously through a predetermined distance, after each enlargement or nodule has been formed thereon, so as to provide nodules at uniformly spaced distances along said wires, said means comprising yieldably mounted nodule engaging members for moving said wires lengthwise of themselves in one direction.

Itis another purpose of my invention to provide means for releasing said wires from said clamping jaws when said clamping jaws are moved out of clamping engagement with said wires, comprising guide members for said wires, at longitudinally spaced points along said wires from said clamping jaws, having yielding means for urging said wires out of the stationary jaws of said paired clamping jaws.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that l do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

. Fig. l is a plan view of my improved cold method nodule forming apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary'section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View through a pair of clamping jaws and a fragmentary portion of a pair of cooperating jaws in work gripping engagement after movement into wire upsetting position. i

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the clamping jaws in releasing position, and the cooperating pairs in spaced relation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in horizontal section and partly in plan, of the wire advancing means in one position thereof. j l

Fig. 9 is a similar view of said wire advancing means in another position thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. l1 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view of the adjacent ends of a pair of wire gripping members that are opposite each other.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my multiple wire nodule forming machine is provided with a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending bottom channel members 12, upon which a stationary transverse frame member 13 is mounted adjacent one end thereof, said transverse frame member 13 being connected with the longitudinal frame members 12 by means of bolts 14. Also mounted on said channel members 12 is a transverse frame member 15, which is connected with the longitudinal frame members 12 by means of bolts 16. A stationary member 17 is also mounted on the longitudinal channel .members 12, being connected therewith by means of bolts 18. The member 13 is provided with a plurality of stilening members 19 `for the vertical wall 20, which is provided with an upper and lower marginal flange 21. The transverse frame member is similarly provided with stiffening members `22 for the vertical wall 24 thereof. The transversely extending stationary member 17 is provided with horizontal wall portions 25 extending perpendicularly to the vertical wall 26 and with side walls 27 ,and 28 and a horizontal wall portion 25' having a -thickened central portion 29, which is provided with a bore 30 therein having a closed end wall 31. j Bolt-like members 32 of relatively large cross section extend between the vertical walls 24 and 26 and through said walls and have reduced threaded portions 33 thereon that are provided with nuts 34, said threaded portions providing shoulders on said bolt-like members 32 against which the vertical walls 24 and 26 of the transverse frame member 15 and the transversely extending member 17 are clamped. Thus the wall 26 is fixed in position relative to the wall 24. Said bolt-like members 32 not only serve as means for locating the transversely extending member l17 in fixed position relative to the transversely extending frame member 15, but also serve as guide members on which certain movable parts of the apparatus are slidably mounted for movement longitudinally thereon.

Cylinders 35 having bores 36, in which pistons 37 and 38 are slidably mounted are provided. Bolt-like members 40 extend through a pair of vertically extending plates `41 and 42, which are in turn bolted to the outwardly offset portions 43 and 44 of the vertical side walls 27 and 28 of the member 17 by means of bolts 45, and also to the frame members 12 by means of the bolts 46 extending through the horizontal flanges 47 of said frame members 12 andthrough inwardly directed bottom flanges 48 on said vertically extending plate-like members 41 and 42, spacing members 49 4being provided between the plate-like members 41 and 42 and the frame members 12. The plate-like members 41 and 42 are provided with stiffening flanges 51 and 52, and the top and bottom :Ganges 25 have oisets 53 and 54 corresponding to the olsets 43 and 44. The bolt-like members 40 have reduced threaded end portions 55 engaged by nuts 56, said reduced threaded portions providing shoulders engaging the plates 41 and 42 for clamping said plates in fixed position by means ofthe nuts 56.

Said pistons 37 and 38 are provided with suitable clamping means 57 for securing sealing rings 58 in position thereon for providing a fluid tight seal between said pistons and the walls of the cylinders 35 in which the pistons are mounted. A vertical plate-like member 59 is mounted on the pair of pistons 37 and a similar vertical plate-like member 60 is mounted on the pair of pistons 38. The mounting of the plate-like members 59 and 60 on the pistons 37 and 38 is identical and the parts carried by the plate-like member 60 are the same as those carried I.by the plate-like member 59, the details of construction -of these parts being shown with respect to the plate 59 in Fig. 4. Guide ribs or projections 50 on the wall portions 27 and 28 engage the plates 59 and 60.

The plate 59 is recessed at 61 to receive the ends of the pistons 37 and headed screw-threaded members 62 clamp said plate-like member 59 to the pistons 37, as will be obvious from Fig. 4. Flanges 63 and 64 are provided on said plate-like member, between which one end of a compression spring 65 is mounted. The other end of said .spring 65 is mounted between similar flanges 66 and 67 at the top of the plate-like member 41 and the anges 48 and 67 at the bottom of the plate-like member 41. The springs 65 will thus urge the plate-like member 59 and the pistons 37 away from the plate-like member 41. A similar structure is provided for urging the plate-like member 60 away from the plate-like member 42.

Extending `between the anges 64 of said plate-like member 59 are vertically extending flanges 68 and 69, which are provided with inwardly offset portions 70 that provide shoulders 71 engaged by the upper and lowermost clamping jaws 72, which are mounted on the wall or plate-like member 59.. Said clamping jaws have their main body portions slidably mounted between said flanges 68 and 69 and have vertically extending end flanges 73 and 74- thereon. Said clamping jaws are provided with longitudinally extending grooves 75` of such shapeas to closely engage a wire gripped thereby. The grooves 75 have enlarged portions 76 at the ends thereof that lie within the flanges 74, that form portions of forming dies, as will be explained below.

Mounted between the face 77 of the plate-like member 59 and the inner faces 73 of the clamping jaws 72 is a ply of deformable incompressible material 79, which preferably is rubber, said ply of material l79, being `coniined between the walls of the lianges 68 and 69, the face 77 of the wall 59 and faces 78 0f the clamping jaws 72, will serve to equalize the pressure exerted by the clamping jaws 72 on the wire members engaged thereby throughout the lengths of the grooves 75. The clamping jaws 72 are secured to the plate-like member 59 by means oi' headed fastening elements 80, which are mounted in enlarged bores 81 in the clamping members 72 and have counter-sunk heads 82 and threaded portions 83 that engage in threaded openings in the member 59. Sleeves 84 of flexible material are provided between the member 59 and the ends of cylinders 35, being mounted on reduced portions 85 of said cylinders. Said sleeves prevent entrance of dust or other foreign material into the space between the ends of the cylinders 35 and the member 59, said sleeves 34 being made of exible impermeable material, of a similar character to belting, are shown in Fig. 4 in the position that these have when 'the pistons have moved to their extreme position in the direction to clamp wires between the wire clamping jaws. Upon movement of the plate-like member 59 in the opposite direction, or to the Vright las viewed in Fig. 4, the sleeves 84 will ex so as to not interfere with the movement of the parts in that direction.

The plate-like member 60 has wire clamping jaws 86 mounted thereon in the same manner as the jaws 72 are mounted on the member 59 between corresponding flanges 68 and 69 on said plate-like member 60. Said jaws 86 are grooved like the jaws 72 to receive wires to be clamped thereby, having die forming enlargements like those `in the jaws 72.

Cooperating with the clamp-ing jaws 72 are clamping jaws 87, which are mounted on the plate-like member 41 in a similar manner to that in which the clamping jaws 72 are mounted on the plate-like member 59. The plate-like members 41 have vertically extending iianges 38 and 89 having oiset portions 90 corresponding to the oiset portions 70 on said plate-like members 59 and serving the same purpose. Said clamping jaws V87 have their main -body portions slidably mounted between the flanges 88 and 89, have vertically extending end anges 91 and 92 and are provided with longitudinal grooves l93, which are similar to the grooves 75 in th'e clamping jaws 72 and are in transverse alignment therewith, the grooves 75 and 93, when the jaws are in the closed position shown in Fig. 4, closely embracing the wire 94 gripped therebetween, said grooves having enlarged portions 95 complemental to the enlarged portions 76 of the grooves 75 and opposite thereto constituting portions of forming dies for forming the nodules .on the wire 94.

A ply 96 of deformable incompressible material, similar respect to the conduit to the space 109 within the cylinder secured by means of bolts t'th previously referred to ply 79, is mounted, so' as 'jaws 87 are vsecured to the plate-like member 59 by vmeans of headed fastening elements 97 that are mounted in enlarged boresY 98 in the jaws 87 and have counter- Ysunk heads 99 'and threaded portions 100 that screw- .threadedly engage in threaded openings in the member 41.

:Cooperating with the clamping jaws 86 are clamping jaws. 101, which` are mounted in the plate-like member -,42,f1n the same manner as the clamping jaws 87 are mounted in the plate-like member 41 and which are -provided with grooves that are similar to the grooves in zthe jaws 87 and cooperate with the grooves in the jaws 86 in the same manner as the jaws the jaws 72.

It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 3 that a space 87 cooperate with 102 exists between the inner ends of the pistons 37 and "38 in the cylinders 35.

Hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to said cylinders 35 into the space 102m 1each thereof through branch conduits 104, which extend from a conduit 105 that is connected either with la supply of hydraulic uid under a pressure above atmospheric` or a container for said hydraulic fluid, in which it is subjected only to atmospheric pressure, by suitable vvalve means (not shown). Said valve means may be controlled by suitable timing or similar means to open tothe fluid above atmospheric pressure or at atmospheric pressure in proper sequence or timed relation to produce the reciprocations of the pistons 37 and 38 in the direction to cause the jaws 72 and 86 to move into'wire clamping engagement with the jaws 87 and 101, when-hydraulic uid under high pressure enters the space 102, and in a direction to separate said jaws 72 and 86 from the jaws 87 and 101 under the action of the springs 65, when said space 102 is connected with the supply of hydraulic uid under only atmospheric pressure.

The transverse member 17, the members 41 and 42 carried thereby and the cylinders 35, the pistons 37 and 38 and plate-like members 59 and 60 form a clamping jaw carrier upon which the pairs of cooperating clamping jaws 72 and 87 and 86 and 101 are mounted for rela- Itive movement into and out of wire clamping position.

A cylinder 106 is mounted on the vertical wall 24 yof the transverse member 15 of the frame of the machineLhaving the end edge 107 thereof seated in a 'groove in said wall 24 in fluid tight relation thereto.

A conduit 108 leading from suitable valve means, that is adapted to connect said conduit 108 with a supply of hydraulic uid under pressure above atmospheric ror a container of hydraulic fluid at atmospheric pressure, in a similar manner to that referred to above with 105, leads through the wall 24 106. A piston 110 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 106 and has an annular hollowed out portion 111, which has its end edge seated in fixed position in a circular groove 112 in a `transverse wall 113 of a slidably mounted member 155,

said wall 113 having openings 114 therein slidably receiving the bolt-like members 32. Said slidably mounted member has vertical side walls 115 and horizontally extending walls 116 that serve 4as stitening means for the wall 113.

The relatively thick end wall 117 of the piston is provided with suitable means 118 for securing sealing rings 119 in position on said piston and a suitable sleeve of flexible material 120, similar to the sleeve 84, is mounted between the wall 113 and the end of the cylinder 106 adjacent thereto, in a similar manner to that in which the ilexible sleeve 84 is mounted between the ends of the cylinders 35 and the plate-like members 59 and 60. Said walls 115 of said movable member are provided with outwardly offset portions 121 to which the vertically extending plate-like members 122 and 123 are 124, said plate-like members 122 having stiffening anges 125 thereon and said platelike members 123 having stitening flanges 126 thereon, which are similar to the flanges 51 and 52. Bolt-like members 127 extend through the members 122 and 123 and are provided with reduced threaded end portions that are engaged by the nuts 128, said reduced threaded end portions being mounted in the plates 122 and 123 in a similar manner to that in which the reduced threaded end portions of the bolts 40 are mounted in the plates 41 and 42, the nuts 128 clamping the plates against shoulders on said bolts to hold said plates 122 and 123 in fixed position lrelative to each other on the movable member 155.

Plate-like members 129 and 130 are provided on said movable member 155, the bolt-like members 127 extending through said plate-like members 129 and 130, in a similar manner to which the bolt-like members 40 extend through the plate-like members 59 and 60, and said platelike members 129 and 130 engage slidably with guide ribs or projections 131 on the member 155 guiding the movements of the plate-like members 129 and 130. Said plate-like members 129 and 130 are of the same construction as the plate-like members 59 and 60 and are mounted on pistons 132 and 133 in the same manner as the plate-like members 59 and 60 are mounted on the pistons 37 and 38. The pistons 132 and 133 are slidably mounted in the cylinders 134 and are provided with sealing means 135 engaging the walls of said cylinders and are held in engagement with said pistons by means of clamping members 136. Sleeves 137 of eXible impermeable material, similar to the sleeves 84, are provided between the members 129 and 130 and the reduced end portions of the cylinders 134, for the same purpose as are the sleeves 84.

Mounted on and secured to the member 129, in the same manner as are the wire clamping jaws 72 on the member 59, are wire clamping jaws 138. A portion of one of said jaws is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Confined between the anges on the member 129 and the face of the member 129 adjacent the clamping jaws 138 is a ply of deformable incompressible material 139 corresponding to the ply 79 previously described and serving the same purpose. The jaws 138 are provided with wire receiving grooves 140, which correspond to the grooves 75, and have enlargements 141 at the ends of said grooves that lie in the vertical anges 142 of the jaws 138 that are adjacent the jaws 72.

The plate-like member 130 is provided with wire gripping jaws 143, which are mounted on the plate-like member and secured thereto in the same manner as are the clamping jaws 138 on the plate-like member 129. Also the jaws 143 are provided with grooves that are similar to the grooves in the jaws 138 and having similar enlargements thereon as the jaws 138 at the end flanges thereof that are adjacent the clamping jaws 86.

Mounted on the plate-like member 122 are wire clamping jaws 144. A portion of one of said wire clamping jaws 144 is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 1l. The wire clamping jaws 144 are made in the same manner as the wire clamping jaws 87 and are mounted and held in position on the member 122 in the same manner as are the jaws 87 on the member 41. The deformable incompressible ply between the jaws 144 and the member 122 is indicated by the numeral 145 in Figs. 6 and 7. Said jaws 144 are provided with wire receiving grooves 146 having enlargements 147 in the end flanges 148 thereof that are adjacent the jaws 87. The plate-like member 123 is provided with gripping jaws 149, which are mounted in the same manner in the plate-like member 123 as are the gripping jaws 144 in the plate-like member 122. Said jaws 149 are similarly held in position on said platelike member 123, and are grooved in a similar manner to provide wire gripping means and die forming means, as are the jaws 144.

Hydraulic uid is supplied to the space 150- between 7 `adjacent lends ofthe pistons 132 and 133 within the cylinders 134 through suitable branch conduits 152 `that 'extend from the conduit 105, to which hydraulic fluid under atmospheric pressure or under a pressure above atmospheric is supplied by controlling means as previously described. The movement of the pistons 132 and 133 in a wire clamping direction is obtained in the same manner as previously described with respect to the pistons 37 and 38 by the application of hydraulic fluid above atmospheric pressure to the space 150 in the cylinders 134 and the movement of the pistons in a direction to 'move the jaws 138 and 143 out of wire clamping position is obtained by means of springs mounted in a similar manner to the springs 65 shown in Fig. 4. It will be 'noted that all the jaws 72, 86, 138 and 143 are moved simultaneously into wire clamping position due to the fact `Athat the hydraulic Huid above atmospheric pressure 'is supplied to all the cylinders 35 and 134 simultaneously.

Mounted on the bolt-like members 32 in Xed position are collars 153 and compression coil springs 154 are mounted between the vertical wall 113 and said collars 153, said springs tending to move the movable member 155 having the transverse wall 113 and the piston 110 to the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. Accordingly, when hydraulic fluid under a pressure above atmospheric is vsupplied to the space 109 the piston 110 will be moved "toward the right and all the parts carried thereby will be correspondingly moved to the right, while when said space 109 is connected with a body of hydraulic fluid 'that is at atmospheric pressure, the piston 110 will be moved toward the left under the inuence of the springs 154.

lThe movable member 155 and the plate-like members 129 and 130, and 122 and 123 and the cylinders 134 i'mounted thereon comprise a movable carrier for the paired gripping jaws 138 and 144, and paired gripping jaws 143 and 149. It will accordingly be seen that a stationary and a movable carrier are provided, each of which is provided with a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged gripping jaws for clamping a wire, the gripping jaws on each carrier being arranged opposite each other vand the gripping jaws of the movable carrier being lolcated oppositethe gripping jaws of the stationary carrier, lengthwise of the machine.

Means is provided for guiding the wires on which the 'nodules are to be formed into the gripping and forming dies and for advancing said wires a predetermined distance after each forming operation has been completed to bring the wires into proper position for the next forming operation to be performed thereon. Said means comprises 'guide tubes 156, which are mounted in openings in the vertical wall 24 of the transverse frame member 15 and guide tubes 157 that are mounted in openings in the vertical wall 20 of the transverse frame member 13. Suitable fastening elements 158 and 159 are provided for pivotally securing said guide tubes to the transverse frame members. The other end of each of said guide tubes 156 is slidably mounted in a guide bar 160, which is mounted on the lside wall 115 of the movable member 155. Each of the guide bars 160 is provided with a plurality of openings 161 for receiving the guide tubes 156 and is yprovided with headed elements 162 extending through openings 163 therein, a compression coil spring 164 being `mounted between the head 165 of each of said headed elements and the guide bar 160, with which the same are associated, said headed elements being screw-threadedly connected with the members 115 at 166. It will accordingly be seen that each of the guide bars 160 will be urged toward the vertical wall 115 adjacent thereto. The tubular members 157 are mounted on guide bars 167,

J'which have openings 168 therein for receiving the guide tubes 157 and which have openings 169 therein, through VA`which headed members 170 extend that are screwthreadedly mounted at 171 in the side walls 27 and 28'of coil lsprings A172 :mounted lbetween .the heads 173 thereof and each of the guide bars 167, so Vasfto urge the :guide bars 167 'toward the walls 27 and 28.

It will be noted that, in view of the tendency of lthe guide bars and 167 to move toward the members on which the same are mounted, the Wires 174 extending through said guide bars will be urged in a'direction away from the gripping jaws 87, 144, 101 and Y149 whentthe mova-ble gripping jaws 72, 138, 86 and 143 are moved out of gripping engagement with the wires, thus withdrawing the wires from the stationary jaws. When the :jaws are moved into gripping engagement the wires .174 will'b'e flexed as indicated in Fig. 6, moving from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 to the lfull line position due to the action of the cooperating jaws. The guide tubes 157 are provided with slots 1.75 on the sides of said guide tubes 157 that are toward each other in the machine, 'as shown in the drawings.

The jaws 72 are moved toward the jaws 87 andthe jaws 138 are simultaneously moved toward Vthe -jaws 144 on the one side of the machine, while the jaws 86 are moved toward the jaws V101 and the jaws'143 are moved toward the jaws 149 on the other side of the machine, simultaneously with the movement of the jaws on the first mentioned side of the machine. In theoperati'o'n'f the machine, after the wires 174 have'been gripped -by the jaws in this manner hydraulic fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 106, causing the jaws 144-and 13S 'to move toward the jaws 87 and 72 and at the 'same time the jaws 143 and 149 are moved toward `the jaws 86 and 101. Such movement of the jaws will cause 'upsetting of the cold wires 174 between the gripped portions thereof, because of the reduction in distance betweenthfe gripped portions of the jaws, and the upset material v'will enter the enlargements 76, 95, 141 and 147 'ofthe grooves in the jaws, forming an enlargement or nodule '176 of a definite shape determined by the shape of the enlargements of said grooves which provide recesses in the adjoining faces of the gripping jaws that constitute forming dies.

The guide bars 167 are provided withlarger openings therein than the guide bars 160, and the tubular members 157 are of larger bore than the tubular members 156 'tto accommodate the nodules 176. The bore 30 has a piston 177 slidably mounted therein, having suitable sealing rings -178 provided thereon to provide a seal between said piston and the walls of Vthe bore 30. The piston 'is'provided with a piston rod 179 that extends through aguide opening in a screw-threaded flange 180, which is threaded into the bore 30. A movable wire advancing cross head member 181 is mounted on the piston rod 179 having a socket member 182 thereon that has an end wall that engages a shoulder 183 on the piston rod, said piston rod 'having a reduced portion 184 around which a compression coil spring 185 extends. The member 181 is provided with flanges 186 and with ears 187 extending outwardly from said flanges, on which ngers V188 are -pivotally mounted at 189. Said fingers have projections 190 thereon that enter the slots and are urged in a direction t'o enter said slots by the springs 191, which have end portions secured in openings in the lingers 188 and the anges-189. There is one linger for each guide member 157.

The thickened stilfening member 19 on the Vmember 131 is provided with a socket portion 192 for the spring and said spring is seated in the socket members li182 and 192, at opopsite ends thereof. The reduced portion 184 of the piston rod 179 extends through 'a 4guide 4opening 193 in the stiffening member 19 ofthe member 1117. Suitable means is provided for introducing 'hydraulic fluid under pressure into the space 194 to move thefpiston 177 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. Such movement 'of the piston will cause the cross head member 181 to'be moved to the right along with the piston. IThe projections on-the ingers'*188'will be back'of'anodule'176 on each ofthewires 174 tand v`willcarry-said Wirelithe distance of the stroke of the piston to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. Upon connecting the space 194 in the bore 30 with a body of hydraulic fluid under only atmosphere pressure, the spring 185 will return the cross [head 181 to the position shown in Fig. 3. When this takes place the projection 190 on the finger 188 will leave the nodule 17 6 with which it has been in engagement and will move back over said nodule 176, as shown in Fig. 8, `as the spring 191 is compressed, and will be in position back of another nodule 176 to move it and the wire on which it is provided to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, for example, upon again admitting hydraulic fluid under a pressure higher than atmospheric to the space 194 in the bore 30.

The control of hydraulic fluid to the various cylinders is such that the cylinders 35 and 134 are first simultaneously supplied with hydraulic fluid above atmospheric pressure to move the movable gripping jaws into engagement with the stationary gripping jaws of each pair and after the gripping jaws are in wire gripping e-ngagement, hydraulic fluid above atmospheric pressure is admitted to the cylinder 106, moving the pairs of gripping jaws mounted on the movable carrier 155, that are in gripping engagement with the wires on the movable jaw carrier, toward the jaws on the stationary jaw carrier gripping the wires, upsetting the wires and forming the nodules 176 theron. The cylinders 35, 134 and 106 are then connected with a body of hydraulic fluid that is under only atmospheric pressure, whereupon the gripping jaws release the wires and the movable carrier 155 moves to its extreme left position, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. Thereupon hydraulic fluid at higher than atmospheric pressure is supplied to the space 194 back of the piston 177 to advance the wires as above described, and after said wires have been thus advanced the space 194 is connected with a supply of hydraulic fluid under atmospheric pressure to permit the spring 185 to return the cross head 181 to its original position. Thereupon the sequence of operations is repeated. It will be noted that nodules are formed, in the machine shown, on eight rwires 174 simultaneously. Obviously the number of paired gripping jaws on the movable and stationary jaw carriers can be increased should this be found desirable.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for cold forming nodules on wires having a pair of work clamping jaws, means for moving one of said jaws alternately into and out of work clamping position relative to the other jaw and holding said one jaw in said positions, a second pair of work clamping jaws, means for moving one of the jaws of said second pair alternately into and out of work clamping position relative to the `other jaw of said second pair and holding said one jaw of said second pair in said positions, means for moving said second pair of work clamping jaws toward said first pair while said pairs of jaws are in work clamping position, a transversely movably mounted guide tube leading to the entrance end of one pair of said jaws, a transversely movably mounted guide tube leading from the exit end of the other pair of jaws, and means associated with one of said guide tubes for advancing said work longitudinally through said clamping jaws a predetermined distance when said jaws are out of clamping position.

2. In a machine for simultaneously cold formi-ng nodules on a plurality of wires, a pair of clamping jaw carriers, one of said carriers being mounted for movement toward and away from the other thereof, each of said jaw carriers having a plurality of pairs of clamping jaws mounted thereon, each pair of clamping jaws on said movable carrier being mounted opposite a pair of clamping jaws on the other carrier, each of said pairs of clamping jaws comprising a clamping jaw movable toward the other jaw of said pair to clamp a wire therebetween, wire guides onv opposite sides of said. otherjaws of opposite pairs of jaws having means for urging a wire 'engaging said guides transversely out of said other jaws, means for simultaneously moving all said movable clamping jaws into and holding said jaws in clamping position, and means for moving said movable carrier toward said other carrier while said movable jaws are held in wire clamping position.

3. In a machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of wires, a pair of clamping jaw carriers, one of said carriers being mounted for movement toward and away from the other thereof, each of said jaw carriers having a plurality of pairs of clamping jaws mounted thereon, each pair of clamping jaws on said movable carrier being mounted opposite a pair of clamping jaws on the other carrier, each of said pairs of clamping jaws comprising a clamping jaw movable toward the other jaw of said pair to clamp a wire therebetween, wire guides on opposite sides of said other jaws of opposite pairs of jaws, guide biasing means for urging a wire engaging said guides out of said other jaws,'hy draulic means for simultaneously moving all said movable clamping jaws into wire clamping position, and hydraulic means for moving said movable carrier toward said other carrier while said movable jaws are held in wire clamping position.

4. In a machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of wires, a pair of clamping jaw carriers, one of said carriers being mounted for movement toward and away from the other thereof, each of said jaw carriers having a plurality of pairs of longitudinally grooved clamping jaws mounted thereon, each pair of clamping jaws on said movable carrier being mounted opposite a pair of clamping jaws on the other carrier, each of said pairs of clamping jaws comprising a clamping jaw movable toward the other jaw of said pair to clamp a wire therebetween, wire guides mounted for movement transversely of said jaws on opposite sides of said other jaws of opposite pairs of jaws, said guides having means for urging said guides out of alignment with the grooves in said jaws to urge a wire engaging said guides out 'of said other jaws, means for simultaneously moving all said movable clamping jaws into and holding said jaws in wire clamping position, means for advancing said wires longitudinally through said clamping jaws and guides a predetermined distance when said jaws are out of clamping position, and means for moving said movable carrier toward said other carrier while said movable jaws are held in wire clamping position.

5. A machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of Wires having a pair of jaw carriers mounted for movement toward and away from each other, each of said jaw carriers having a plurality of pairs of cooperating clamping jaws mounted thereon, one jaw of each pair having a substantially fixed position on its carrier and the other jaw of each pair being movable on said carrier into and out of work clamping position relative to said iirst mentioned jaw, means on said carrier for simultaneously moving all of said movable jaws into and holding said movable jaws in work clamping position, means for simultaneously advancing a plurality of said wires longitudinally through said clamping jaws a predetermined distance when said jaws are out of clamping position comprising slotted guide tubes for said wires, a crosshead mounted for movement longitudinally of said guide tubes between the same, fingers on said crosshead aligning with the slots in said tubes and means urging said fingers through said slots into engagement with the nodules formed on said wires, and means for moving said one jaw carrier toward the other jaw carrier while all of said pairs of jaws are held in work clamping position.

6. A machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of wires comprising a stationary carrier, a carrier movable toward and away from said stationary carrier, each of said carriers having a plurality of cylin ders mounted transversely thereon, a pair of pistons in each of said cylinders, a jaw mounting member iixed on each of said pistons, a pair of clamping jaws mounted on each of said mounting members, cooperating clamping jaws mounted on each of said carriers opposite said first mentioned clamping jaws, means for simultaneously supplying hydraulic fluid to each of said cylinders between said pairs of pistons, and means for moving said movable carrier toward and away from said stationary carrier.

7. In a machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of wires, a stationary clamping jaw carrier, a clamping jaw carrier mounted for movement toward and away from said stationary carrier, each of said carriers having a plurality of pairs of clamping jaw `mounting mem-bers mounted thereon, one of said mounting members of each pair being movable toward and away from the other mounting member of said pair transversely of the direction of movement of said movable carrier, a plurality of clamping jaws mounted on each of said mounting members to move therewith, each jaw on each of said paired mounting members being opposite a jaw on the other mounting member of the pair to provide pairs of clamping jaws each comprising a jaw movable toward the jaw opposite the same to clamp a wire therebetween, means for simultaneously moving all said movable mounting members toward the other mounting members comprising cylinders mounted transversely of the carriers, a pair of pistons mounted in each cylinder, means for iixing said movable mounting members to said pistons and means for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to all said cylinders between each pair of pistons, and means for moving said movable carrier toward the stationary carrier while said jaws on said movable mounting members are held in wire clamping position by said pistons.

y 8. In a machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of wires, a stationary clamping jaw carrier, a clamping jaw carrier mounted for movement toward and away from said stationary carrier, each of said carriers having a plurality of pairs of clamping jaw mounting members mounted thereon, one of said mounting members of each pair being movable toward and away from the other mounting member of said pair transversely of the direction of movement of said movable carrier, a plurality of clamping jaws mounted on each of said mounting members to move therewith, each jaw on each of said paired mounting members being opposite a jaw on the other mounting member of the pair to provide pairs of clamping jaws each comprising a jaw movable toward the jaw opposite the same to clamp a wire ltherebetween, means for simultaneously moving all said movable mounting members toward the other mounting members comprising a pair of cylinders mounted transversely of each of said carriers, a pair of pistons mounted in each cylinder, means for iixing each of said movable mounting members to one of the pistons in each cylinder of the pair thereof mounted on a carrier and means for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to all said cylinders between each pair of pistons, and means for moving said movable carrier toward the stationary carrier while said jaws on said movable mounting members are held in wire clamping position by said pistons.

9. In a machine for forming Inodules on wires, a pair of wire clamping jaw mounting members each having a recess therein, a plurality of elongated, longitudinally grooved clamping jaws mounted in each of said recesses, the jaws on one of said mounting members being opposite the jaws on the other of said members with the longitudinal grooves in the opposed jaws in alignment to provide pair of jaws adapted to clamp a wire between thel same in said grooves, a layer of deformable incompressible material confined in each of said recesses between said mounting members and the clamping jaws mounted therein, and means for'. moving one of said 12 mounting members. toward the other mounting member to move the jaws on said lirst mounting member into wire clamping position relative to the jaws on the other mounting member, said means holding said jaws in wire clamping position.

l0. In a machine for simultaneously cold forming nodules on a plurality of wires, a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending members, transversely extending walls secured thereto, a plurality of longitudinally extending tie members connecting and spacing said transversely extending walls, a frame longitudinally slidably mounted on said tie members between said transversely extending walls, a pair of longitudinally extending parallel side wall members secured to one of said transverse walls and to said longitudinally extending frame members, transversely extending tie members connecting and spacing said side wall members, longitudinally extending plate-like members extending parallel to said side wall members and transversely slidably mounted on said transversely extending tie members, a pair of pistons secured to each of said plate-like members, each piston on one-plate-like member being transversely aligned with a piston on the other plate-like member, a cylinder mounted between said plate-like members o-n each pair of said transversely aligned pistons, said slidably mounted frame having a pair of side wall members longitudinally aligning with said irst mentioned side wall members, transversely extending tie members connecting and spacing the side wall members on said slidable frame, longitudinally extending plate-like members extending parallel to said side wall members transversely slidably mounted on said last mentioned tie members, a pair of pistons secured to each of said last mentioned plate-like members, each piston on one plate-like member being transversely aligned with a piston on the other plate-like member, a cylinder mounted between said last mentioned plate-like members on each pair of said last mentioned transversely aligned pistons, a plurality of clamping jaws on each of said plate-like members, a clamping jaw opposite each of said first mentioned clamping jaws on said side wall members, means for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to all said cylinders between the pistons therein, and means for moving said longitudinally slidable frame toward and away from said one transverse wall.

1l. A machine for cold forming nodules ou wires having a pair of work clamping jaws, means for moving one of said jaws alternately into and out of work clamping position relative to the other jaw and holding said one jaw in said positions, a second pair of work clamping jaws, means for moving one of the jaws of said second pair alternately into and out of work clamping position relative to the other jaw of said second pair and holding said one jaw of said second pair in said positions, means for moving said second pair of work clamping jaws toward said first pair while said pairs of jaws are in work clamping position, a tubular guide member leading to said second pair of jaws, a tubular guide member leading from said first pair of jaws, said guide members being pivotally mounted remotely from said jaws, means engaging said guide members adjacent the ends thereof nearest said jaws to urge the work transversely of said jaws, and means associated with the guide member leading from said rst pair of jaws for advancing said work longitudinally through said clamping jaws a predetermined distance when said jaws are out of clamping position.

l2. A machine for cold forming nodules on a wire comprising a stationary carrier, a carrier movable toward and away from said stationary carrier, each of said carriers having a cylinder mounted transversely of said machine thereon, a piston in each cylinder, a jaw mounting member iixed on each of said pistons, a clamping jaw mounted on each of said mounting members, a cooperating clamping jaw mounted on each of said carriers opposite said first mentionedclamping jaw, means for si- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Seward Nov. 6, 1866 Seward May 7, 1872 14 Withington Jan. 29, Wilder June 21, Scheidt Nov. 22, Bettendorf July 15, Smith Oct. 14, McClelland Apr. 3, Smith Ian. 19, Jones June 29, Koch Sept. 16, Brandt Aug. 21,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 11, 

